Mississippi gov. says state will not follow any national lockdowns

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said Thursday his state would not cooperate with possible national economic lockdowns to curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to a new report.

Reeves was responding to recent comments from an adviser to President-elect Joe Biden that the United States could handle the pandemic by shutting down small and medium businesses for six weeks.

The governor, in a Facebook Live video, called Dr Michael Osterholm’s foreclosure idea “totally and completely beyond reason,” Mississippi Clarion Ledger reported.

“The people of Mississippi can’t just go home and shut down their small businesses… for six weeks, and just think you can come back in six weeks, flip a switch and you’ll be fine,” Reeves said.

Reeves said state and local governments should tackle the coronavirus, with support from the federal government.

“I don’t believe there is any constitutional or statutory authority for any president to shut down the Mississippi economy,” he said. “We will certainly fight this if it becomes necessary.”